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Ryedale Carers Support need volunteers

A SUPPORT service offering vital respite for carers and company for older people is calling for more volunteers to sign up to enable it to continue its work.

Local voluntary organisation Ryedale Carers Support is looking to recruit people on a rolling basis to provide elderly people who may be lonely with some much-needed company and to offer people caring for someone an important opportunity to have a break.

Claire Hall, manager of the organisation, said that without the help of volunteers they would not be able to continue with their work throughout the Ryedale community.

“Volunteers are the lifeblood of what we do, they are absolutely essential,” she said.

“Without them we could not do the service that we do.

“We would love to see more people get involved and we support our volunteers in whatever they do.

“It’s a rolling programme because once we introduce a carer to someone we need to recruit more.”

Ryedale Carers Support currently has about 125 volunteers on its books and offers volunteering opportunities for people to befriend people in nursing and residential homes as well as sitting with older people in their own homes who want some companionship.

The service also supports those people who are caring for someone, with support groups also set up to meet like-minded people, as well as a space to take some time out and relax.

Claire said: “People can volunteer, once a week, once a fortnight or once a month, it really is to suit them.

“It’s very much about what the volunteer can give us and what they want from the experience.”

Some travel expenses are paid, however transport is not a requirement for volunteering.